Xfce 4 Window Manager

François Le Clainche

<fleclainche@wanadoo.fr>

Denna handbok beskriver xfwm4 version 4.8.3

Innehållsförteckning

Introduktion

Använda xfwm4

Hantera fönster

Customizing xfwm4

Decoration style
Tangentbordsgenvägar
Focus preferences
Advanced settings

Managing workspaces

Workspaces settings
Workspaces margins

Om xfwm4

Introduktion

The Xfce 4 Window Manager is part of the Xfce Desktop Environment. The actual command to run is xfwm4. To run it in the background use xfwm4 --daemon. The window manager is responsible for the placement of windows on the screen, provides the window decorations and allows you for instance to move, resize or close them.

xfwm4 adheres strongly to the standards defined on freedesktop.org. Consequently, special features such as making windows borderless, or providing an icon for the application must now be implemented in the application; you can no longer use the window manager to force different behaviour. One of the great features of xfwm4 is its themeability. The window decorations (borders, title bar and window buttons) can be configured by using window manager themes.

xfwm4 offers multihead support, for both xinerama and real multiscreen modes, useful when you have more than one monitor connected to your computer.

xfwm4 can be run stand-alone, but if you use it this way, you will need the Xfce 4 Settings Manager if you want GUI settings management. Tasks other than managing windows, like setting a background image or launching programs, need to be performed by other programs.

xfwm4 includes its own compositing manager, which takes advantage of the new X.org's server extensions. The compositor is like a WM on its own, it manages a stack of all windows, monitor all kinds on X event and reacts accordingly. Having the compositing manager embedded in the window manager also helps keeping the various visual effects in sync with window events. If you want to use the compositor, you have to build xfwm4 using the --enable-compositor configure option. In any case, you can disable the compositor on xfwm4 startup using the '--compositor=off' argument.

Använda `xfwm4`

Hantera fönster

The window manager provides borders, a title bar and window buttons to application windows. The look is defined by the window manager theme.

In the default theme xfwm4 shows six buttons and a title on regular application windows. The six buttons perform these basic functions:

Figur 1. xfwm4 title bar buttons

You can open the window menu with a left-click on the menu button on the title bar, or with a right-click on the window title area itself.

If you use xftaskbar4, you can open an action menu with a right-click on one of the taskbar entries; it includes several items among those available in the window menu.

Ge fokus till ett fönster

You need to give the focus to a window if you want it to receive keyboard and mouse input. Window decorations colors will change, following the focus. To obtain more details about focus options, please refer to the corresponding section below.

A keyboard shortcut allows to switch the focus from a window to others : Hold Alt and then you can press Tab repeatedly untill you get to the window you want to focus. If you use it, you will see a small popup showing the application name, its icon and the window title. Also xfwm4 will highlight the outline of the window that will receive the focus.

NOTE: the use of a keyboard shortcut in an application needs the application window to have the focus :)

Maximera / avmaximera fönster

If you maximize a window, it will expand on your display and use all avaible space (as it is defined by workspace settings). You can maximize a window either vertically, horizontally, or both at once.

To maximize a window, perform one of those actions:

click the maximize button of the title bar
open the window menu from the title bar and choose the "maximize" item
use Alt + F5 keyboard shortcut

You can make any window appear in fullscreen mode (it will then use all the size of your screen without showing the window borders) by using the customizable Alt + F11 keyboard shortcut.

To maximize a window vertically :

middle-click the maximize button of the title bar
use Alt + F6 keyboard shortcut

To maximize a window horizontally :

right-click the maximize button of the title bar
use Alt + F7 keyboard shortcut

When a window has been maximized in a way or another, it can be restored to its previous size doing one of these actions :

click the unmaximize button of the title bar
use the same keyboard shortcut once again
choose the "Unmaximize" item in the window menu

Resize windows

Although certain special windows can not be resized, you are able to resize most of them to fit your needs.

you can use the edges and corners of the window frame to modify its size, dragging them with the mouse
you can use the Alt + right click shortcut while you hold the mouse pointer anywhere over the window frame; it will act as if you were dragging the bottom-right corner of the window
you can use practical keyboard shortcuts : Shift + Alt + (up, down, right or left) Arrow

Hide / unhide windows

You can hide a window performing one of these actions :

click the hide button of the title bar
open the window menu from the title bar and choose the "Hide" item
use Alt + F8 keyboard shortcut

Alternatively, you can hide all windows of current workspace, excepted the one you are using, in only one action : click the menu button of the title bar and choose "Hide all others".

To "unhide" a window, you will have to select its name or its icon in one of those Xfce 4 components :

xftaskbar4
the list of windows, accessible with a middle-click on the desktop background. This list shows all opened windows, classified by workspaces. Windows that are currently hidden are marked between [ ].
the xfce4-iconbox

Shade / unshade windows

If you "shade" a window, it will be reduced to the size of its title bar. The same repeated action makes a window to shade/unshade :

click the shade/unshade button of the title bar
open the window menu from the title bar and choose "Shade" or "Unshade" item
use the mouse scrollwheel while you hold the pointer over the title bar
use the Alt + F9 keyboard shortcut

Stick / unstick windows

If you "stick" a window, it will be visible at the same place on all your workspaces. The same repeated action make a window to stick/unstick :

click the stick/unstick button of the title bar
open the window menu button from the title bar and choose "Stick" or "Unstick" item
use the Alt + F10 keyboard shortcut

Raise / lower windows

The "raise window" function makes a window frame appear above all the other frames. To raise a window, you can :

left click on its titlebar
give the focus to the window, if the corresponding option is selected in the Keyboard and focus preferences dialog
left click anywhere on its frame, if the corresponding option is selected in the Keyboard and focus preferences dialog
click on its label in the taskbar or the iconbox
use the Shift + Alt + Page_Up keyboard shortcut (if the window is already focused)

You can make a window frame to always stay above all other windows by opening the window menu and selecting the "always on top" item.

The "lower" function sends a window frame below all other frames. To "lower" a window, you can :

middle-click on its title bar
use the Shift + Alt + Page_Down keyboard shortcut (if the window is focused)

Move windows

There are several ways to move windows :

left or right click on the title bar of the window and drag it
use Alt + left click while the pointer is anywhere over the window frame and move the mouse
use Control + Alt + Shift + (up, down, left or right) Arrow keyboard shortcut

Move a window to another workspace

You can send a window to another workspace by performing one of these actions :

stick the window, move to another workspace, then unstick the window.
use the window menu and choose one of the "Send to" submenu items.
left or right click on the title bar of the window, drag it to the screen edge : the pointer will then go to the next workspace, still holding the window. Corresponding option needs to be selected in the Window Manager Preferences dialog.
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